Holiday Weather

Val Thorens is a resort which would be waisted on beginners. In order to enjoy the skiing at its best you would need to be at least a high intermidate. I am a good skier and I hardly scatched the surface of what the 3 valleys had to offer. We had the best and the worst of the weather the resort had to throw at us. Strong winds which close every lift on our first day and the next day 2ft of powder which made for the best days skiing of my life followed by the next day fog! The good really outwayed the bad in my opinion!!!

The resort itself is a good one with everything you need. the daytime food is not great and is pricey although the nightime food is still expensive but is outstanding as long as you like to eat well.

Would I go back again? Probably. Would I ski the 3 valleys again? Certainly

Recommended Places
The only recommendation that I have is to ski away from the resort as quick as you can. Every lift has something else to offer and the further you get away the quieter the runs!

This is the third time I have visited Val Thorens, the first time was in 2001, the new automated lift pass system works well but I would now say that this is a good intermediates resort, not one for novice or advanced skiers, the are no enough true nursery slopes and not enough challenging runs for the more advanced skier but it is a good all round resort.

Make sure you use the full 3 valley ski pass and get across to Meribel & Courchevel.

Apres ski there are plenty of good bars but make sure you book up to eat out in the evening.

On a personal note I would recommend avoiding the Tex-Mex for food, myself & 1 other in my group both had food posioning after eating the chili there.

Recommended Places
Try the Bowling for a good night out.

The resort now also has loads of internet access including plenty of bars with wi-fi.

Overall an awesome holiday. Some of the most spectacular sights ever, snowboarding on some of Europes highests pistes. Even a chance to ride on fresh powder when we were there, followed with 5 days of blue skies and sunshine. Couldnt ask for much more!

Plenty of pubs, restarants, and a few clubs to keep you busy at night. The bowling alley is a good bit of fun if you have a chance. Drinks are a bit expensive when out, but there are supermarches dotted all over which offer very good prices for alchoholic refreshments.

Definitely recommended resort by ourselves, looking to go back next year already!

Recommended Places
Malysia Night Club
The Frog and Roast Beef Pub (Highest Pub in Europe)
Le Grange Restaurant

We arrived in our mini bus to falling snow on the mountain road so snow chains were obligatory, it therefore took about 3 hours to slimb the mountain. A couple of coaches got stuck on the way up but this was exceptional, and it did mean that when we got up to blue skies and sunshine the next day here was plenty of snow. I hadn't been skiing since I was 8 (36 years ago) and now I know what I'e been missing. Other people who have skiied plenty said this was the best snow they had ever known so perhaps we were fortunate. There are literally hundreds of runs in the 3 valleys which would take more than 3 week long ski trips to cover. Lifts were'nt crowded and the longest wait during the week was about 5 minutes. All the resort personnel were friendly, helpful and awake. Nightlife almost absent and yes 2 pints of guiness 2 shorts and a pint of lager did cost 36 euros. Ski school was very good and reasonably priced 32 euros for a 2 3/4 hour lesson or 135 euros for a week of morning lessons. Eating out was quite expensive and we should have taken advantage with simple self catering in our small but bijou 4 person appartment. Next time we will bring more easy to cook meals - because we will definitely be back!!!

Recommended Places
Explore the 3 valleys.